I thought Class 3 would feel safer on the road

[kevinmccune]

A good question may be: what do we do when driving our cars and encounter a bicycle? Like you, I most often ride ~25+mph but recognize I could be doing 45mph and the driver behind will deem it necessary to pass. Maybe it is a case of thinking a quick pass will restore a safe lane for the biker.

I watch ahead and try to give the cyclist plenty of room a good rider will not hold you up much on these country roads I was amazed how fast the "Pros crossed a 3 mile mtn incline of course going off the other side they could keep ahead easily. That race was basically unannounced and caused a little confusion.

 

[chunk]

I always give pedestrians, bicycles and motorcyclists a wide berth when passing them. It's obvious, I'm in a truck that weighs 4500 pounds or so. I treat them like I hope they will treat me when I'm on the receiving end.

 

[JRA]

I always am at my best on traveled roads, hug the white line and even will go to the shoulder if it is ridable. Wide berthers still will go completely into the other lane to get around me even on blind corners. The law says give 3' and that is plenty in those situations unless the rider is obviously weaving into the traffic lane and not holding a steady line. And lets not forget the Coal Roller types.....

 

[tomjasz]

The Bible

boring fairytale

 

[kevinmccune]

boring fairytale

I agree on some parts,OTH it has been shown to be historically accurate Jordan Peterson sez[ Live everyday as if God is real, there are many benefits] I used to be a literal"Pharisee" until common sense kicked in, it is a widely read book, also has some kooky interpretations.

 

[sc00ter]

If I pass a cyclist, slow moped or pedestrian I flash my hazards, hopefully to alert those behind me that they are about to pass a slower vehicle. And I recently restocked my "cheap lights are better than nothing" campaign from Lidl. If you're on a bicycle and have no lights I'll stop and give you a set because I 'm coming home from work around 9:30pm. If I have a hard time seeing a cyclist then I know a most car won't see them at all.

And concerning the Bible. I'm not religious by any means. I think the bible gives most people a grounding and God knows more people need a grounding! Compassion takes a lot less effort than anger and compassion rewards one with much better results.

 

[tomjasz]

I agree on some parts,OTH it has been shown to be historically accurate Jordan Peterson sez[ Live everyday as if God is real, there are many benefits] I used to be a literal"Pharisee" until common sense kicked in, it is a widely read book, also has some kooky interpitations.

Convenient interpretations?

 

[Blake Cheetah]

I agree on some parts,OTH it has been shown to be historically accurate Jordan Peterson sez[ Live everyday as if God is real, there are many benefits] I used to be a literal"Pharisee" until common sense kicked in, it is a widely read book, also has some kooky interpitations.

Jordan Peterson is a regressive waste of space.Happy riding!

 

[Marquezdl]

My observation about cycling, be it ebike or pedal bike is that if I am decked out in Lycra and Spandex it seems like a percentage of the drivers out there are aggressive and rude.
if I go out in my sandals, shorts, and a button up shirt that percentage seems to drop noticeably, like they are recognizing me as a fellow human or some such.
also, at least in medellin, if I am riding a slower speeds than the cars most cars seem to treat me as a bicycle. However if I am going the same speed or faster than the cars, they seem to treat me as a motorcycle and they cut me no slack.
just my impressions.

 

[Ben J]

if I go out in my sandals, shorts, and a button up shirt that percentage seems to drop noticeably, like they are recognizing me as a fellow human or some such.

There's a guy on youtube who endorses fly fishing button-up shirts for cycling. The back is cut to give you room to swing your arms around. They're full coverage for sun protection, they dry quickly and they have good pockets. And as you mentioned, people are slightly less likely to try to run you over.

 

[kevinmccune]

If I pass a cyclist, slow moped or pedestrian I flash my hazards, hopefully to alert those behind me that they are about to pass a slower vehicle. And I recently restocked my "cheap lights are better than nothing" campaign from Lidl. If you're on a bicycle and have no lights I'll stop and give you a set because I 'm coming home from work around 9:30pm. If I have a hard time seeing a cyclist then I know a most car won't see them at all.

And concerning the Bible. I'm not religious by any means. I think the bible gives most people a grounding and God knows more people need a grounding! Compassion takes a lot less effort than anger and compassion rewards one with much better results.

Good man, you have probably saved lives.

 

[kevinmccune]

Jordan Peterson is a regressive waste of space.Happy riding!

Dont sell Ol' Jordy too short,He does take too much time getting a point across, no worse than that Russian Guy Freidman.I think People at a certain level have trouble relating to commoners such as myself,I finally took the time to really listen to JP, upon reflection it made a lot of sense( most things anyway).

 

[kevinmccune]

Convenient interpretations?

You ought to hear some of the things Christians have told me.

 

[Sparky731]

How do these comments have anything to do with the initial post?
Let’s stay on topic.

 

[Kayakguy]

Do you think you are gaining or loosing auto driver respect when you do this?

We stay in line where we stopped to avoid the "privileged ahole" appearance.

In Bellingham, we have a few intersections where there is a green "bicycle box" (or whatever you call them) that let bikes move ahead of the autos, though when coming from behind, I don't usually go around the cars to the front--I guess because I don't want to annoy drivers more than necessary. Those places also have a "no free right turn" sign across the intersection, but I have to wonder whether all drivers see those signs. I do get the impression, in dealing with traffic where it is unavoidable, that most drivers really don't want to hit me. I suppose they don't want the inconvenience of having to explain themselves to the police and their own insurance companies.
I often find myself wending my way down neighborhood arterial streets where there is no bike lane. Whenever there is a gap between parked cars, I move to the right to let any following cars go by easily, but then back into the traffic part of the lane when I have to. I'm curious whether doing this is necessary or even wise.

 

[Kayakguy]

boring fairytale

Actually, has some very racy parts, to the extent that I just heard about someone who is trying to get it banned from school libraries.

 

[kevinmccune]

How do these comments have anything to do with the initial post?
Let’s stay on topic.

Christian bike riders, like myself have to learn to turn the other cheek and not let traffic make us do something stupid, pray for the 4 wheel driver, do not curse Him. We share the road and usually in an altercation we will be the ones covered with a blanket. We must always be aware we do not usually pay road use taxes and our machines usually will not out accelerate or keep up with a car,it doesnt matter how fast we go the drivers behind think we are holding them up. I was coasting down an incline fast approaching a stop sign and a young girl in a Pontiac just had to pass then turn right and stop a few yards later at the dumpsters,I went by her a few seconds later when she stopped.Patience, as the Apostle Paul[I have found out how to be content in any situation] if you cannot control your temper biking will not do you much good, a fast heart rate caused by stress or anger is really not the same as one caused by exercise

 

[mschwett]

Do you think you are gaining or loosing auto driver respect when you do this?

We stay in line where we stopped to avoid the "privileged ahole" appearance.

this depends on local laws. filtering and lane splitting are legal in some places and not in others. explicit legal in california for motorcyles and (i believe) other two wheeled vehicles. whether it inconveniences anyone else is a judgement call - in an urban environment it often has LESS of a slowing effect for a bicycle to move past stopped cars, turn or get out in front of them rather than sit between two cars where passing may be more difficult. here the pedestrian crossings (which will shortly be legal for bikes to use) have a significant head start on the cars, so a bike can get out in front of the traffic, where they are highly visible and not in danger of getting squished.

in 10,000 + miles on local roads and streets i do not think i have ever observed an auto driver's tangible "respect" for me go down when i filter past them in stopped or extremely slow traffic. and safe to say that if an ahole (it would have to be one) opened their door to intentionally stop or injure me, they would be the subject of both criminal and civil proceedings in which i would make sure to make their life as absolutely difficult as possible, no matter what it cost. i have NEVER heard of or seen anyone doing this, and the fact that you suggested it is horrifying.

I do know, as an auto and bike operator, my first thought is to open my door when aholes do as described.

 

[chunk]

We call it lane splitting in California, and on a motorcycle it's a legal maneuver, with certain conditions. I do it on my motorcycles, especially at a stop light, for self preservation. The last thing you want on a M/C is to be squished between two cars because the guy behind you had their head up their a**. Much safer in between cars, side to side with them, but I lane split with respect to the cage drivers and stay within the legal guide lines, but I have never considered doing it on a bicycle. Bicycles are too slow to be mixed in with traffic. I stay as far away from the cages as I can, usually off the the very right shoulder, and when I'm really felling vulnerable I ride against traffic so I can least see the cars as they whiz by me, not too often but sometimes it seems the safest option.

 

[Kayakguy]

We call it lane splitting in California, and on a motorcycle it's a legal maneuver, with certain conditions. I do it on my motorcycles, especially at a stop light, for self preservation. The last thing you want on a M/C is to be squished between two cars because the guy behind you had their head up their a**. Much safer in between cars, side to side with them, but I lane split with respect to the cage drivers and stay within the legal guide lines, but I have never considered doing it on a bicycle. Bicycles are too slow to be mixed in with traffic. I stay as far away from the cages as I can, usually off the the very right shoulder, and when I'm really felling vulnerable I ride against traffic so I can least see the cars as they whiz by me, not too often but sometimes it seems the safest option.

Riding against traffic seems very risky, and I think is illegal in some places. If I'm on my bike, and see a bike coming toward me in the bike lane, I find it disconcerting, especially when they have their own bike lane on their side of the road. Who has the right of way, especially if it's not a wide enough lane to safely pass? It bothers me to see pedestrians in the bike lane too, but we never come to blows.